Gov. Mike Pence’s office says he is on a two-day economic development trip in New York City, meeting with business executives.

But he also spoke Monday night at a nationally known gathering of 500 elected officials, journalists, business leaders and conservative authors and is scheduled to appear Tuesday morning on the “Fox & Friends” TV talk show.

The trip is fueling more talk that Pence is considering a potential White House bid in 2016.

His New York jaunt generated criticism Monday from Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody. He cited a Washington Post article saying Pence was meeting with Wall Street bankers and political columnists Monday.

“Is this an economic development trip or is it a political trip, and who is paying for it?” Zody asked. “He needs to be transparent with Hoosiers about his plans and who is paying for his trips.”

While Pence hasn't explicitly ruled out a presidential run, he has repeatedly said that he hasn't given it any thought and is focused on Indiana.

A one-sentence statement early Monday from the governor’s office said he was going to New York on an economic development trip.

When asked later if this was a political trip, Kara Brooks, Pence’s press secretary, said, “No, not at all.”

“This is the second year that Gov. Pence has traveled to New York to meet with business executives who are interested in locating or expanding their businesses in Indiana,” she said. “The governor welcomes every opportunity to attract new and better jobs for Hoosiers, and he tries to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Brooks didn’t want to say whom he is meeting with, but she said that type of private information isn’t revealed when potential businesses interested in relocating come to visit Pence in Indianapolis, either. The trip was paid for by the governor’s office budget, she said.

Brooks noted that he is also addressing The New York Meeting. According to its website, it identifies leaders and generates ideas for the country’s future. The 90-minute meetings consist of five 15-minute speeches by elected officials, newsmakers and authors, followed by question-and-answer sessions.

The New York Meeting is run by Mallory Factor, a professor of international politics at The Citadel and FoxNews contributor, and O’Brien Murray, a Republican consultant and political strategist. The sessions are streamed live by a number of large conservative organizations and reach a large monthly audience.

The trip marks a return to New York for Pence, who relied in part on New York money when he won the governor’s office in 2012. Pence visited with Donald Trump, real estate tycoon and reality TV star, in 2011 and collected more than $300,000 from New York donors.